Murray's Patton repeats as INA all-stater

Murray senior guard Kate Patton eclipses the 1,000-point mark for her career with a layup over the
defense of Lenox's Jacy Stoaks during a Murray win in December. Patton was named to the INA's all-
state second team today.

By LARRY PETERSON - OST sports writer • lpeterson@crestonnews.com

Kate Patton became only the second two-time all-state girls basketball player at Murray High School this week.

The 5-foot-5 senior guard was named to the Iowa Newspaper Association second all-state team today as a utility player, after making the third-team backcourt last year as a junior. The team is selected by a panel of Iowa sportswriters, with assistance from the Iowa Basketball Coaches Association.

This year Patton broke the career and single-season scoring records held by the only other two-time Murray all-stater — Kristin (Shields) Flaherty, who held the previous record of 1,248 points set in 2007.

Patton set the single-season mark of 429 points while averaging 18.7 for the 20-3 Lady Mustangs. Her career record total is 1,340 points. She also holds the school career steals record of 464 and ranked third in the state this year in that category with 139. She averaged 6.0 steals and 4.3 assists per game.

Nobody in Murray history has made more free throws in one season than Patton's 130 this year. She shot 65.7 percent from the line this year and 41.8 percent from the field, hitting 15-of-46 from 3-point range for 32.6 percent.

Patton also ranks third at Murray in career assists.

"I might be a little biased, but I think Kate is the best all-around player in the Bluegrass Conference," coach Jerry Shields said. "She's one of the best kids I've ever had for seeing the floor. She's small, but so strong, she could throw a two-hand chest pass to the other end of the floor if she saw somebody open for a layup. She's a good leader and great in academics, too. It will be tough to replace her."

Patton used her all-around athletic skills to create problems for opponents defensively, and as a floor leader on offense. While also a standout softball and volleyball player, she's among the state elite in track and field.

Patton was runner-up in the Class 1A 100-meter dash last spring, and also placed in the top eight in three other events — 200 meters, 400 meters and long jump. She was third in the 200 meters, and plans to be a sprinter at Central College next year.

Patton was all-conference four years at Murray, leading the Lady Mustangs to a 53-17 record the past three seasons. She has been named to the Class 1A Select Team for the Iowa Girls Coaches Association All-Star Series April 5-6 in Cedar Rapids.

Patton, (Shields) Flaherty and Shawna (Boles) Kelley are the only three 1,000-point scorers in Murray history. Patton scored 30 points in a 63-59 win over Ankeny Christian for the team's first Bluegrass Conference tournament title since 2007. She had 22 points and 10 steals in a 66-27 win over Lenox Dec. 19 to reach the 1,000-point mark.

Teammate Megan Oswald and guards Madison Laib of Ankeny Christian Academy and Brittany Roby of Twin Cedars were other all-state candidates from the Bluegrass Conference.

Oswald, a 5-11 senior, averaged 11.2 points and a team-high 8.7 rebounds per game for the Lady Mustangs. She was first-team all-conference.

Bedford's balanced state-tournament team did not have any all-staters this year, but the sophomore-dominated squad showed promise for the future by knocking off Murray and Stanton to reach the 1A quarterfinals, where they lost 73-37 to runner-up Newell-Fonda.

Top candidate for all-state honors from the Lady Bulldogs squad was guard Fallyn Beemer. The 5-6 sophomore averaged 15.2 points with 100 steals and 49 assists while finishing among the state 3-point leaders at 67-of-242.